Saturday, February 23, 2008

One of my crafting buddies that I have known for over 5 years is asking for prayers for her bil. She has given me permission to post her comment. I hope that you will all join in and say prayers for him. Jackie has done some amazing things in her life and she now has an exchange student living with them. She is the sweetest, kindest, and very talented person. Hugs, Pat

I was going to take a break from blogging for a bit but I need to ask all of you to please pray for my brother in law, Terry, he has 4 blocked arteries in his heart, one is 90% blocked, one is 80% blocked, the other two are 60% and 50% blocked. He had no symptoms other than he had been tired. He needs surgery with in the next 2-3 weeks. A year ago he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and has been dealing with the life style change. My sister is very strong and believes strongly, as do I, in the power of prayer. So we are asking all of you that pray, please add Anne and Terry to your list.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

I wanted to keep the Pay it Forward on top, but I really wanted to give this award to survivors of Breast Cancer, especially Amy. So anyone who is a survivor, please feel free to take it. I will delete it in a couple of days so that the Pay it Forward remains on top, unless ya'll can tell me how to keep it on top. I deleted the original posts and lost the comments, but do remember that Mary at the Writing Nook signed up. Love Ya'll, Pat

Hey ya'll! Here's a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days. (I'm responding to this via The Secret Gardner)

Here are the rules:1.~Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. First three folks to comment will get a gift from ME. (If I don't know it already, let me know how I can contact you, an e-mail is fine.)

2.~Do the same thing on your blog!The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog, too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!This should prove to be fun.....and interesting.This is a great way to make new friends too.....let's see what happens.

Mary, I sent you an e-mail, so hope you repost. You are the only one who has joined via my blog but hope to get 2 more who comment AND commit. Hugs, Pat

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Well yesterday did not go as planned. My dr is almost certain I have type 2 diabetes. Will know for sure next week after all the blood work. Since I didn't fast yesterday, Monday morning will be all the blood work, then to the gyno. Well at least that would shed some light as to why I am so tired all the time.

He also wants to give me an epiduram(sic) to help with the pain in the hip and lower back. Here I thought if I just give up the sugar and bad carbs, I would never have to go through what other family members are with the diet, pills, or injections. I have to keep a journal of my blood sugar, morning and night and try to get away with a diet change. I am only 5'1", weighing 132 and I have been dealt with enough, but I know God knows what He is doing. As Mother Theresa has said many times----"God thinks I am strong, but I wish He didn't trust me so much".

So please keep me in your prayers---not sure if I can handle diabetes. On that note, I am going unpack pots and dishes and find something healthy to eat. Love Ya, Pat

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Well I didn't get the rest I thought I would. A friend called and one of my best guy friends in high school, lost his dad, so got dressed out of the cupcake pjs and went to the funeral home. I have seen this parlor room so many times in the last 6 months that it's starting to feel like a second home.

Just seeing how strong their mom is helped me a great deal. I told her she had not changed since I last saw her, which was probably 40 years ago, but the guys I see more than that. I love seeing Christian faith shining in someone's eyes and it was clear that she was prepared for him to die.

Well today I should find out if I am diabetic on top of everything else. My morning blood sugar has been in the 190s and at night in the 200s. That could have bearing on why I feel so bad and shaking. I am lucky, as my drs wife is also BP, so he has been very helpful to me. It's good that you like your dr. because I will see this one for the rest of my life, unless they find a cure. I know that having the hip replaced will help, but not sure what they can do for my spine and the adhesions.

So today, even with the ugly skies, it's much brighter now and I am so thankful for the wonderful people who visit and encourage and pray for me. God Bless you all. Even with your illnesses, you take time to lift my spirit. I discovered blogland from Tia, aka, mizsmoochielips and it has been a wonderful journey getting to know you.

So as a lovely rubber stamps says "I'm putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it"---lol. Love and Hugs, Pat

Monday, February 11, 2008

Well I thought my hiatus would be gone, but today has knocked me down and I am caught in a "Blue" mood. Not to go into many details, but these days and sometimes weeks happen and I only need to rest my weary spirit. I know others have it far worse, but on days like today, I want to scream "Why Me"?On days like today, I am mixed with emotions as to why I had to go through 14 surgeries on top of being BP, which only made things worse. My future holds no cure for now and chronic pain is what I told I would have to live with forever. Tomorrow I see my pm doctor and he is really understanding since he's been a part of my treatment since coming off of life support.I Want to craft so badly because that is the one thing, besides God that takes my mind off the ugly scars and pain. But as another blogger said, today I want to be a child of God and just stay in my cupcake pjs and let God take control of my spirit as He has done so many times.I don't have a "Pitty Pot"---I like to refer is as my "Patty Pot", because just sitting and meditating on the gifts that God has given me, makes me remember how much I have been blessed. I could use my dad right now, because he was always understanding and hearing the Cajun word "Sha" would bring a smile to my face. So as Jesus would do when faced with tormoil, I am going to a quiet room and pray, not just for me, but for all who are ill and face more than I. Just say a little prayer for me----I know the power of prayer, been there and as they say, "Tomorrow is another day" Love and Hugs, Pat

Monday, February 4, 2008

Well I hate to take a vacation, because it's really not a vacation, but AWOL. I have a craft room that is filled with boxes and needs to be put away. There are still some in the living room and it's really getting to me, because I don't like crafts in other parts of my little cottage. I will take the time out to visit my favorites blogs, but will have nothing new to post right now. I want to get finished so I can get back to my life. The dreaded Mammogram and colonoscopy is this month and I hate both. At least they put you out for the second one. I don't know why it hurts so bad when I have my boobs smashed like pancakes, but I do it anyway, since I have 3 aunts who have had mastectomies from malignant breast cancer and my mom's twin sister died from colon cancer, so I get screened every 5 years now, unless they find polyps again.I want to work on some giveaways and had the perfect thing to do for Valentine's Day, but due to so many deaths in our family, it got here too fast. I even forgot to send my beautiful daughter her birthday card early. Shame on me, but I know she will understand (Sorry Sweetie). Well I am going to put my punches away, then call it a night. Have a fun and great week. Deena, I am going to keep checking in on you and hope that this Friday is the day you can start your chemo. Big hugs and prayers to everyone. Pat

Saturday, February 2, 2008

I am blessed to recieve this blessing award from Mary at Isabellascloset and I really needed it right now.

I am now to pick 3 people to pass it on to you and you in turn, pass it on to 3 people, so we can get this blessing around the world.

To Deena at Am I pretty in Pink---she so needs blessings right now and recieving them daily.

To Jackie at Inspiration Creation for taking in an international student from China and should be blessed for this selfless act.

And I really have to cheat and pass it on to All of you who have blessed me with your prayers and kindness over the loss of both my parents. Your prayers and blessings are getting me through some rough days.

As some of you know, I am a Cajun and we have a tendency to go around the world when telling a story. Mine started in 2001 when my daughter, Chris, said I needed something to do after one of my surgeries, so she gave me her old Gateway. Well I didn't even know how to turn on the computer, much less do any searching, but once the instructions were put on paper, I searched for a saying and some craft ideas and typed in craftsayings and things and that is where this story takes you.

Shirley Thomas, who lives in Maryland, had a site named craftsayings.com and I joined the group, plus joined the Voy that was an open forum on crafting. Shirley soon became a mentor and helped me with the internet. On January 26th, I got an e-mail from her with new ideas. Last night I found out that she passed away on January 30th, but we still don't know the details from her husband. She was a wonderful lady and she has left a legacy to devoted crafters across the world and her husband said he is going to try and keep the site opened. I was shy when it came to asking questions about the internet because I didn't want to sound dumb, but she taught me that in order to learn, you must ask questions and because of this lady, my children tell me I know more about the internet than they do.

So Shirley, if you are looking down, this is for you. Thank you for the many blessings you brought into my life and the many people I met ( 2 met in person) because of you. You gave me the strength to keep going when I was so down from my surgeries and indirectly through you, I have met some wonderful ladies in blogland and will forever cherish your love and kind spirit.

At one time, we all thought she was actually Carol Duvall. Rest in Peace Shirley and may your legacy live on for all our grandchildren. Pat

This is one of the wreaths I made for our parents graves. The other is just the opposite and I tried to make them identical. I am in the process of making things for each season, since we have a place to store them and reuse them for a couple of seasons. It gives me some comfort to know that my mom's spirit still sees me crafting. I know she would be disappointed if I quit crafting.

start after Ash Wednesday. Click on for a larger view--I made them too small.

I sent mizsmoochielips some beads one year

and her hubby wanted to know if I had to raise

my shirt up for beads-lol. Only "Girls gone Wild" do that, unless you want to end up in jail!

We spent our Mardi Gras Day dressed up in Metairie where it is a more family environment, but you still see some strange things.

This is a picture of my "muse"! I sure could use her for inspiration right now, but sadly she's packed away until next year.

As you can tell I still haven't gotten the hang of blogging. but it's still fun and the adventure is the learning. Wish I could throw you all some beads, but being heavy as they are, I could probably only send you one strand. Now to figure out what I can do with the hundreds of strands I have collected over the years.